Someone has been stealing my brothers WIFI, and his usage has tripled, therefor his bill has tripled this past month. He has locked it now, but is there anyway to trace who did this. The IP address is for his connection, right, not for everyones individual computer?
Stealing WIFI!
- Thread starter FTWWTF
- Start date
If he had an unsecured wireless connection he created a WIFI free zone for anyone to use as is available at many restaurants.
Unsecured wireless is pretty much like leaving your front door open with a "come on in!" sign...
So with that logic if I leave my wallet sitting on the counter it's free game for other people to steal? And, in fact, others should be encouraged to steal it?
It's still theft. That said, this is one of those life lessons and the dummy should have known better than to leave his WIFI unsecured.
there is real lack of understanding of right and wrong amongst the younger "wired" generation. they don't steal music or movies- they share it or downloard it. they don't steal wifi from the OP's brother- hey- he didn't lock it so I can use it for free. it wasn't free for the brother.
This is a real dilemma. When I moved into my condo, I had access to someone's wifi, so I never got my own hooked up. But then you need to think about whether to go on a downloading spree and just grab every movie and tv series you can for a month and know he will wise up when he gets his bill. Or you play it cool and just keep it to a moderate amount and try not to trigger his suspicion. I went for the latter, and managed to go 3 months before he locked it. I don't know if someone else came along and went nuts and triggered it, or if he just caught on, but it is pretty sweet to get free wifi while it lasts.
Mine was secure... And got tapped into regardless.
1. Calling the company will have them reverse the usage charges as long as he can show it is unusual usage.
2. WPA is NOT SECURE. Mine was locked down, with password changes, etc. 5 times before I finally got a supervisor who chose not to argue with me. WPA2 is more secure.
3. Ask for the modem login, and lock it down one more level. You brother can book mark the address. Set up the M.A.C. filtering to allow instead of allow all. I have to open it up a bit or manually add M.A.C. addresses, or auto find them but I have never had a usage problem since. It's been 13 months...
1. Calling the company will have them reverse the usage charges as long as he can show it is unusual usage.
2. WPA is NOT SECURE. Mine was locked down, with password changes, etc. 5 times before I finally got a supervisor who chose not to argue with me. WPA2 is more secure.
3. Ask for the modem login, and lock it down one more level. You brother can book mark the address. Set up the M.A.C. filtering to allow instead of allow all. I have to open it up a bit or manually add M.A.C. addresses, or auto find them but I have never had a usage problem since. It's been 13 months...
Don't think for a second that the majority don't know it to be stealing. Saying they are "sharing" it is just their defense, to soften the blow if anything ever comes of it or if someone confronts them on it. What twit thinks music is legally free on the internet, when it's sold for actual money at retailers?
As for the OP, there's probably some way to track the IP address of those accessing your brother's WIFI, but I fail to see what you'd actually do with that information. I'd say it's not worth the hassle. Of course, if your brother wants to make a point of it I'd start with calling his internet provider to see what they can do.
Ms. Emily Marie
New member
I am going to make sure my tethering iPhone with my apple is secure now when I am using it ... internet is expensive enough when tethering
Thanks....and Happy Holidays Everyone
xo Emily
Thanks....and Happy Holidays Everyone
xo Emily
He should think himself lucky they did not download kiddie porn, there would have been a knock at HIS door......
Pretty sure it is. I don't think it has anything to do with getting free internet, but more with accessing a network without prior authorization.
That aside, think of this parallel: "stealing" satellite or cable is illegal, as it rips off the service providers. Yet "stealing" internet isn't illegal because it only rips off the real owner? Doesn't make sense to me. If there isn't a law, there probably should be one.
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